Billie Eilish Is PETA’s 2021 Person of the Year
For pushing the fashion world to dump fur and embrace going vegan, Billie Eilish has won the title of PETA’s 2021 Person of the Year. She joins past winners who never stay silent and have changed the world for animals, including Tabitha Brown, Joaquin Phoenix, Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey, and Anjelica Huston.
This year, Eilish made waves when she agreed to wear an Oscar de la Renta gown to the Met Gala—but only if the brand agreed to ban fur, which it did.
“I find it shocking that wearing fur isn’t completely outlawed at this point in 2021. I am so beyond thrilled that … the Oscar de la Renta team heard me on this issue and have made a change that not only makes an impact for the greater good for animals but also for our planet and environment, too.”
—Billie Eilish
Eilish, a longtime vegan, was also a Met Gala co-chair. For the first time ever, the high-profile, celeb-studded event served exclusively vegan meals.
“With all eyes on Billie Eilish at her first Met Gala, she turned the spotlight onto the plight of animals killed for food and fashion. PETA is happier than ever to celebrate her for pushing the fashion industry toward its sustainable vegan future.”
—PETA President Ingrid Newkirk
This year, Eilish also launched a vegan Air Jordan shoe collection with Nike; served as executive producer on and was featured in the vegan documentary They’re Trying to Kill Us, which explores racial inequality within the food system; launched her own vegan fragrance; and announced the release of her own vegan milk chocolate bar.
With more than 96 million followers on Instagram, she uses her massive social media platform for animal rights activism, including posting video exposés of the mink-fur and wool industries. Ahead of Thanksgiving, she reminded her fans that turkeys are “some of the most gentle creatures in the world,” urging them to consider embracing kinder holiday traditions.
Be Like Billie: Go Vegan Today
Everyone who follows Eilish’s lead and goes vegan spares the lives of nearly 200 pigs, chickens, cows, and other animals per year and combats the animal agriculture–induced climate crisis. Going fur-free helps keep foxes, minks, and rabbits from being caged, killed, and skinned. And choosing cosmetics that weren’t tested on animals helps spare mice and rabbits suffering in painful laboratory tests.
